Launching apparatus for lifeboats



M. R. GARCIA.

LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR LIFEBOATS. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

abba/WIW M. R. GARCA.

LAuNcHmG APPARATUS FOR uFEBoATs.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2l, 1919- 1,363,036. Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IVI. R. GARCIA.

LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR LIFEBOATS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 2l. I9I9.

1 ,363,036, Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

a sIIEETsIsHEET s.

MANUEL REY GARCIA, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

LAUNCHING- APPARATUS FOR LIFEBOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed October 21, 1919. Serial No. 332,154.

To all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that MANUEL REY GARCIA, a citizen of Spain, residing atLeavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, hasinvented new and useful lmprovements in Launching Apparatus forLifeboats, of which the following is a specification.

The` object of the invention is to provide a safety device capable ofapplication to vessels particularly of the type designed for passengertravel whereby in case of .emergency the life boats may be expeditiouslyand safely launched under such conditions as to guard against capsizingor injury to the boats, particularly when the launching must be effectedwhile a rough sea is running, andwhereby the boats may as readily behoisted to their normal positions -with reference to the gunwales of theboat or ship as similar boats usually occupy when supported by davits asin the ordinary practice.

To this end the invention consists in a construction and combination ofparts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, it being understood that changes in forms and proportions maybe resorted to within the scope of theclaims without departing from theprinciples involved.

In the drawings: p

Figure 1 is an end view of the apparatus as seen when the boat is in itsnormal position while the vessel is in motion.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

4 Fig. 3 is a detail view in section of a por tion of the landingplatform or stage to show the means for retaining the same in' a normalor housed position and also the. means for lowering the same whenrequired.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side'and edge views of the supportinggrapple which is connected with the hoist pole.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively side and edge views of the castoii. hook.

Fig. 8. is a View of the retaining loop or ring of the casteil hook.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper end of one of the platform orstaging guides.

Figs. 10 and il are respectively perspective and plan views of the endportion of one of the traveler bars'which traverse the stationary guidesor tracks secured to the vessels side.

Fig. l2 is a detail end view of a portion of the platform or staging toshow one of the horses or chuck blocks by which the boat is seated onthe platform.

Fig.` 13 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the bolt retainingarms and a portion of the connected retaining chain bywhich accidentaldisplacement of the bolt when seated is prevented.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view to show the means whereby thesupplemental platform is connected with the main platform and theconnection of the buoy cables thereto.

A Essentially the apparatus consists of parallel tracks or guides 2Opreferably secured in vertical position and in parallelism' to the sideof the vessel indicated at 211, and which may be secured to theexteriorsurface thereof, and upon which is mounted for vertical movement aplatform or staging 22 adapted to support a life boat 23 of whichobviously any desired'number, depending on the size of the platform,lmay be supportedfor the simultaneous launching operation. The platformor staging 22 is provided with a depending traveler frame 24: consistingin the construction illustrated of a plurality of parallel bars 25headed as shown at 26 in Figs.` 10 and 1l to engage slots 2T in theguides 0r tracks 2O,` suitable diagonalbracing, elements 2S connectingsaid travelerbfars to afford the necessary strength l and rigidity.

A dav'it or hanger post 29 is disposedlin an inclined position toproject terminally over the path of the platform or staging 22, theouter end thereof being supported by a post 30, and connected. therewithby means of a bolt 3l or the equivalent thereof is a hanger 32consisting of an yupper hook 33 for engaging an eye 34 in the lower endof the bolt 3l, and a lower hook 35 with which is connected a suspendingchain 36 leading to and engaged by a castoff hook 37 attached as at 38to the platform or staging. Said chain is designed to hold the platformor staging n its normal or housed position with the boat supportedthereon, and when it is desired to lower the boat for launching thecastoff ring or loop 39 shown in detail in F ig. 8 may by means of thetrip chain or cord 40 be disengaged from the hinged tongue 4l of thecastoff hook so as to re-l lease the eye 42 at the lower end of thesupporting chain. The lowering of the platform with the boat, and'obviously the return of the saine to the normal or housed position iseffected by means ofa cable 43 passing around fall blocks 44 and V45 kofwhich the former is engaged with an eye 46 in the hook 33 of thesupporting shackle 32 while the latter is connected by means of an eye47 with the platform. It will be understood that a winch (not shown) maybe employed for controlling the cable y43 or for controlling a pluralityof hoisting cables connectedV with as many platforms or stages as may bedesired, so that a plurality of boats maybe simultaneously launched fromdifferent points on the vessel.

From the traveler bars'25 located beneath the plane of the platform orkstage 22 there extend diagonal braces 48 to sustain the weight of theplatform and its load, and carried by the platform are the horses orchuck blocks 49 combining at the bow and stern of the life boat to formseats for the reception of the -hull of such boat, retaining chains 50being connected with retainer arms 51 extending transversely from theends of the horses or chuck blocks and connected over the llife boat bymeans of castoff hooks 52. When a boat is about to be lowered theseretaining chains may be loosened as indicated in Fig. l2 to permit ofthe floating of the boat as soon as it reaches the water, the purpose ofsaid chains being obviously to prevent the accidental displacement ofthe boat from the seats vformed by the horses when the platform orstaging is in its normal position as indi-g cated in Figs. l and 2.

The lower ends of the guides or tracksl which extend below the plane ofinward curvature of the hull of the vessel are braced as shown at 53 soas to positively guide the platform and the traveler bars connectedtherewith to a depth sufficient to float the life boat free from therests or seats formed by the horses or chuck blocks.

Suspended beneath the main platform or staging is a supplementalplatform 54 designed to act as a fender to prevent injury to orexcessive jarring of the main platform as the latter is lowered withlthe boat, said supplemental platform being connected with the mainplatform by means of bolts 'extending through spacing tubes 56, andconnected with'the supplemental platform are cables 57 extending throughguide tubes 58 4on the edges of the main platform andv connected tocork'floats or buoys 59'which normally may be housed between the planesof said auxiliary and main platforms, but which when the apparatus issubmerged float to the surface of the water at the front and rear edgesof the platform or staging to serve as a guide to the occupants of theboat in positioning the latter above the platform when it is desired tohoist the boat to its'normal or elevated position as indicated in Figs.l and 2.

What is claimed is: Y f ,l

1. An apparatus for the purpose described having parallel tracksarranged vertically at the sides of a vessel hull, a platform or stagingmounted to operate upon said guides or tracks and adapted for movementto a point below the water line, chuck blocks carried by the platform orstaging to form a seat for a life boat,`retaining arms extendinglaterally from said chuck blocks, retaining chains connected with saidretaining said chains being connected at their free ends by castoffhooks, and means for lowering and raising the platform.

2. An apparatus for the purpose described having parallel verticalguides for arrangement at the side of a vessel hull, a platform orstaging having traveler bars mounted upon said tracks or guides, a davitbar supported by the vessel deck and extending terminally over saidplatform or staging, a shackle connected with the projecting end of saiddavit bar, a supporting chain eX- tending from said shackle, a castoft'hook carried by the platform for engagement with the free end of thechain for supporting the platform in its normal position, means upon theplatform for seating and retaining a life boat, and means for loweringand raising the platform.y

3. An apparatus for the purpose described having parallel verticaltracksor guides for arrangement at the sides of a'vessel hull, aplatform having traveler bars mounted in said tracks or guides andprovided with means for supporting a life boat, a davitbar terminallyextending from the vessel deck over the plane of a platform, a sup.-porting chain carried bythe davitbar and having a castoff connection--with'the plat form for supportingthe latter-in its normalv position,and a hoisting apparatus includingnamed platform and spaced therefrom,inhooks for supporting said platforms in their dicator buoys havingfloats connected by normal or elevated positlon, and hoisting cablesextended through guides at the inner mechanism for lowering and raisingthe and outer edges of the first-named platform platform. 5 and adaptedto be housed between the planes In testimon whereof I afix m signature.of said platforms, means including casto" NUEL REY ARCIA.

